His observation was that terrorism, and the possible use by terrorists of weapons of mass destruction, has come to dominate the agenda of the UN, the United States, and also the European Union as reflected in the European Security Agenda.

Secondly, in dealing with new threats, international community finds little time, and meagre resources, to deal with other threats to peace and security including hunger, disease and under-development.

And thirdly the normative global framework, established with the United Nations Charter in 1945, is under strain, especially the rules governing the use of force by states.

TERRORISM: Referring to the critical contribution made by Pakistan to the successes in the global war against terrorism, he said that to realize the vision of a modern, dynamic, economically vibrant, moderate Muslim state, Pakistan should fight terrorism resolutely.

He said: "We remain determined in the face of terrorist backlash. We recognize that fighting terrorism is going to be a long and complex campaign. But we are also taking this challenge as an opportunity to eradicate terrorism from our soil with commitment and resolve, mutual cooperation, and wisdom and understanding."

However, he cautioned that in the long-term, terrorism cannot be defeated without addressing its underlying causes, pointing to the regional conflicts and global social and economic problems.

"In the Middle East, Palestine, is the root cause of alienation in much of the Arab and Islamic world; in South Asia, a resolution of Kashmir which is acceptable to Pakistan, India and the people of Kashmir cannot be delayed for too long; Iraq has compounded the perceptions of anti- Americanism in the Muslim world and of anti-Islamism in the West."

Drawing attention to the growing sense of humiliation and frustration within the Islamic world due to a series of unjust situations Mr Kasuri called for greater engagement between Islam and the West. He also underlined the need for the Muslim countries to initiate steps to address the social and political deficits they face.

Soliciting support of the international community Mr. Kasuri said: "The efforts for revival and modernism in the Islamic world must be supported by the U.S., the West and other major powers."

He added: "Such support, apart from just settlement of political disputes, must include more official development assistance - especially in social sectors and employment generation, and larger and preferential trade access."

ROLIFERATION: On the nuclear proliferation challenge, Mr Kasuri said: "Our aim in this area go beyond mere containment. The long-term objective is disarmament, to rid the world completely of all nuclear, chemical and biological weapons."

He stressed the need to promote a new consensus on nuclear non- proliferation - one that reconciles nuclear legality and nuclear reality. His view was that the proposals to prevent the misuse of civilian nuclear activities ought to be discussed in universal forums and elaborated into equitable, practical and agreed arrangements - strengthening national physical controls and export regimes as well as peaceful cooperation.

"Arrangements should also be worked out whereby those nuclear powers, which remain outside the NPT, can undertake the Treaty's central obligation not to transfer nuclear weapons or sensitive technologies in exchange for access to civilian nuclear and technological cooperation," he proposed.

While pointing to the potential contribution that Pakistan could make to global non-proliferation efforts, Mr Kasuri warned: "But such contribution is inconceivable if we continue to be a victim of selective and discriminatory approaches."

MULTILATERALISM: Advocating "genuine and democratic" multilateralism, Mr Kasuri said: "Such cooperative multilateralism, pursued mainly through the United Nations, and based on UN charter principles, remains the best paradigm for the future."

He cautioned against opting for strategies of intervention and pre-emption to impose order. In a veiled reference to the US adventurism in Iraq, Mr. Kasuri said: "Recent experience has demonstrated that such strategies can be costly and counterproductive."

UN REFORM: He said the UN reform should not come at the cost of UN principles, stressing that institutional reforms in the UN system should promote greater democracy, efficiency, transparency and accountability.

He argued that the appointment of new permanent members would create a new class of privileged Powers and increase political tensions in every region of world and would aggravate the existing divisions within the United Nations.

"Expansion should thus be limited to new non-permanent members on the Council to enable the vast majority of the small and medium-sized states to be adequately represented on the Security Council," he maintained.

Later, a number of noted scholars and defense experts from Pakistan and abroad addressed the seminar. Brig Naeem Salik and Dr Gary Samore made a presentation on 'Nuclear Proliferation Post-Iraq', Dr Syed Rifaat Hussain and Michael Quinlan on 'Emerging Nuclear Challenges', Prof Khalid Mehmud and Rahul Roy Chaudhuri on 'Towards Greater Pakistan-India Bilateral Stability' and Lt-Gen (retd) Talat Masood and Mr Alex Nicoll on 'Conventional Military Forces and Defence Procurement'. Maj-Gen Jamshed Ayaz Khan, president of the Institute of Regional Studies also spoke on the occasion.